The DC Office of Human Rights (OHR) and the DC Commission on Human Rights (COHR) released the 2007-08 Biannual Report today. Created in 1977, the mission of OHR is to eradicate discrimination, increase equal opportunity and protect human rights for persons who live, work, or visit the District of Columbia. The report provides useful information about the Human Rights Act and other laws enforced by the agency, details services provided by OHR and provides an overview of agency highlights. In 2007-2008 the Agency successfully implemented a new vision for serving the public, employing ambitious education campaigns and achieving record numbers for mediated cases, trainings conducted, and cases docketed.

Agency highlights from the Biannual Report issued today include:

• In 2007-2008, OHR conducted training for 76 government and private sector entities for a total 1,282 employees;
• In 2007-2008, OHR reviewed 626 private sector contracts for compliance with EEO policies;
• In 2007-2008, OHR docketed 639 employment discrimination cases;
• In 2007-2008, the number of housing cases docketed increased by more than 39%;
• In 2007-2008, OHR successfully mediated 280 cases with a combined settlement amount of almost $3 million; and
• OHR recorded an 87% growth in the number of language access complaints filed.
  

The DC Office of Human Rights is committed to protecting the rights of citizens that live, visit or work in the District of Columbia. The work of the Agency helps improve the quality of life in the District by enforcing what is regarded as the most comprehensive human rights statute in the nation. 

To learn more about the Office of Human Rights and the Commission on Human Rights visit www.ohr.dc.gov.

View a copy of the Biannual Report (PDF format)*.